Lifetime Member

So, just bought a Ring doorbell and looking forward to installing it. I would say it is my first “smart” home product. Maybe the Ring falls more inline with security system, but whatever. What products have you tried? Hated? Loved?

The only other thing I would like is a camera inside the house as well. I tried a Dlink a few years ago and ended up throwing it in the trash because configuring it was damn near impossible. Maybe also a doorlock.

We have some friends who’s house is 100% “smart”. They say, “we are leaving Alexa.” And the blinds all shut, curtains close, all lights go off, thermostat adjusts, water valve closes, and alarm sets.

So, just bought a Ring doorbell and looking forward to installing it. I would say it is my first “smart” home product. Maybe the Ring falls more inline with security system, but whatever. What products have you tried? Hated? Loved?

The only other thing I would like is a camera inside the house as well. I tried a Dlink a few years ago and ended up throwing it in the trash because configuring it was damn near impossible. Maybe also a doorlock.

We have some friends who’s house is 100% “smart”. They say, “we are leaving Alexa.” And the blinds all shut, curtains close, all lights go off, thermostat adjusts, water valve closes, and alarm sets.

Lifetime Member

I have the echo, an echo show, two dots, blinds, thermostat, cameras and a crap load of lights and switches.

I really like being able to control the thermostat, blinds and lights. Like your buddy's "we're leaving" I have "watching a movie" that sets the lights exactly how I like them. Unfortunately I can't include the blinds in a scene, because the scenes are done through a wink hub and the blinds aren't compatible with wink.

Lifetime Member

I have the echo, an echo show, two dots, blinds, thermostat, cameras and a crap load of lights and switches.

I really like being able to control the thermostat, blinds and lights. Like your buddy's "we're leaving" I have "watching a movie" that sets the lights exactly how I like them. Unfortunately I can't include the blinds in a scene, because the scenes are done through a wink hub and the blinds aren't compatible with wink.

The echo show is a waste in my opinion.

Click to expand...

If you had to start from scratch, would you start with a hub and build with items that are compatible with it?

Lifetime Member

I am building my system with devices that communicate directly with my router with no proprietary hubs in-between the devices and router. Nest, Eufy, etc, then controlling via Echo.

Click to expand...

So Echo acts as a control center? Does echo control these devices by managing them through their own app or does echo do it directly?

I have a sweet Logitech all in one remote that is truly remarkable and so damn smart. It’s amazing how integrated the TV, sound system, cable box, and fire stick setup it does. Having said that, the kids and wife can barely use it. Im afraid an all-in-one control home center would also be met with the same confusion vs just using each app independently.

Lifetime Member

So Echo acts as a control center? Does echo control these devices by managing them through their own app or does echo do it directly?

I have a sweet Logitech all in one remote that is truly remarkable and so damn smart. It’s amazing how integrated the TV, sound system, cable box, and fire stick setup it does. Having said that, the kids and wife can barely use it. Im afraid an all-in-one control home center would also be met with the same confusion vs just using each app independently.

Click to expand...

Each brand has its own app. I have Nest for cameras and thermostats, Alarm.com for builder installed home security system monitoring, Wemo for wall plugs and Eufy for light bulbs. I have four different apps, each of which controls only its devices. Then you register each app with Amazon’s Echo via Alexa and voice control everything. Or go to the Alexa app which can also control everything.

Think of Echo as the Logitech remote. I also use the Logitech but that can apparently be replaced with the Fire Stick.

Lifetime Member

If you had to start from scratch, would you start with a hub and build with items that are compatible with it?

Click to expand...

It depends on what starting from scratch is.

For example, I bought mysmartblinds to control my blinds. They don't work with any standard hub and they have limited functionality with alexa. But retrofitting my blinds was way cheaper than buying new blinds that might have better smart home integration.

Lifetime Member

Also, it isn't that big of a deal to get multiple hubs if you have devices with different standards. When I first got all this stuff I had to use the scenes feature in a hub to execute a group of commands. Now alexa has routines to do the same thing. Except the ***** can't control the blinds as part of a routine.

Lifetime Member

So, just bought a Ring doorbell and looking forward to installing it. I would say it is my first “smart” home product. Maybe the Ring falls more inline with security system, but whatever. What products have you tried? Hated? Loved?

The only other thing I would like is a camera inside the house as well. I tried a Dlink a few years ago and ended up throwing it in the trash because configuring it was damn near impossible. Maybe also a doorlock.

We have some friends who’s house is 100% “smart”. They say, “we are leaving Alexa.” And the blinds all shut, curtains close, all lights go off, thermostat adjusts, water valve closes, and alarm sets.

Lifetime Member

A was talking to a coworker and he got a bunch of Wyze cameras through some sort of promotion. So he gave me one. This little thing is pretty damn cool, was ultra easy to setup, and is very affordable. There is a corny little video in the Amazon link:

Lifetime Member

A was talking to a coworker and he got a bunch of Wyze cameras through some sort of promotion. So he gave me one. This little thing is pretty damn cool, was ultra easy to setup, and is very affordable. There is a corny little video in the Amazon link:

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